Barberry makes a great addition to the landscape, with its easy care, neat form and winter interest.  Classified as evergreen, in this area of the country, barberry will eventually lose its leaves, but puts on a nice color show late into the fall and early winter.

Larger varieties grow to around 5-6' tall and wide, while pygmy varieties top out around 2-3' tall and 3-5' wide.

Leaf color ranges from red to purple to yellow.  Although these shrubs will tolerated light shade, full sun exposure will encourage more vivid color.

Barberry thrives in poor, sandy soil and requires very little maintenance, which is a very good thing since it does have small but painful thorns!  It also produces berries that are insignificant visually, but attract and sustain birds and other wildlife.